J.K. Rowling started the website Pottermore.com
Yeah, that's interesting.
I have to admit that although I have some issues about JKR's writing, both line-by-line and structurally, she really did create a fascinating world and a compelling epic story that ended pretty much as she'd originally planned--and that she actually finished, which is key. She didn't try to drag it out (like Robert Jordan), or let it get so out of hand that she may well die before finishing it (like Jordan, but also like Martin).
I wouldn't mind seeing her try her hand at something else, but I'm interested to see what new she has planned for the wizarding world.
I had a brutal English teacher in 6th grade - at the time I thought she was the worst teacher ever and I hated her (not totally unjustified, she made no secret of who her favorite students were and they were ALWAYS boys). But she drilled grammar into our skulls to the point where I aced every grammar quiz I ever had for the rest of my school career. We diagrammed sentences, we had to memorize and recite the articles (a all an another any both each every few many...) and the prepositions (a preposition is what a squirrel does to a tree!)...it was a tough class, but it was the last tough English class I ever had.
(I guess the lesson is, don't worry about being a horrible bitch to your elementary school students! Eventually they'll look back and thank you for the grammar lessons.)
I never had to diagram sentences in school. It may have helped me, though, when I took automata theory in grad school.
(a preposition is what a squirrel does to a tree!)
No, no! It's what a mouse does to a haystack.
No, no! It's what a mouse does to a haystack.
What kind of sick perverted school did YOU go to??
What kind of sick perverted school did YOU go to??
Obviously not a squirrely one.
I was going through some back postings at Smart Bitches Trashy Books and came across one where an author had pretty much instructed her readers on when and how to purchase her books. Seemingly, this author had put something on her website about which format to purchase her books in (e-book or paper), when (not before the release date), etc., to give her a better ranking in book sales. The tone set some people off - it seemed very dictatorial to some. One of the commentors compared this author unfavorably with Seanan McGuire who had posted information, in response to a question, but phrased it much better. Also, the other author seemingly had some of her facts wrong about how sales were calculated.
So according to the Grauniad, Pottermore isn't a novel. I'm thinking it's a web-based game of some sort.
Gawker has someone telling them it is a branded phone.
One of the commentors compared this author unfavorably with Seanan McGuire who had posted information, in response to a question, but phrased it much better.
Yeah, Seanan has had to explain multiple times that as exciting as it may seem to you, it's NOT good when bookstores put books on shelves before the release date, since those sales don't actually count for rankings, which, besides being personally fulfilling, are also important to publishers when they decide whether to buy more books.
Pottermore isn't a novel. I'm thinking it's a web-based game of some sort.
open mailbox
>read brochure
>"You have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! You will find all of your supplies in the dungeon below the white house in front of you."
